It poured in Delhi on Friday the 13th, but for the deliriously happy supporters of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), it only rained joy, as party leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal walked out of Tihar Jail after several months of imprisonment.
Top AAP leaders — former Deputy CM of Delhi Manish Sisodia, himself out on bail; and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann — were among those present to greet Arvind Kejriwal.
Undeterred by the heavy rain, a spirited crowd of AAP leaders, workers, and supporters had gathered outside Tihar Jail on Friday evening. Kejriwal walked out to a hero’s welcome. His wife Sunita had been waiting there.
Amid vibrant dhol beats, jubilant dancing, and a chorus of pro-Kejriwal slogans, the atmosphere was electric. A sea of colourful umbrellas dotted the crowd, sheltering hundreds of supporters who had been waiting eagerly for the Delhi chief minister’s release.
Posters and banners adorned with slogans hailing Kejriwal were held high, turning the area into a wave of blue and yellow. Bhagwant Mann and Manish Sisodia stood atop a truck, rallying the crowd with cries of support.
Despite being drenched in the rains, AAP leaders and supporters enthusiastically chanted, “Jail ke taale toot gaye, Kejriwal chhoot gaye (Prison locks are broken; Kejriwal is released)” and “Bhrastachaar ka ek hi kaal, Kejriwal, Kejriwal (Corruption has only one killer: Kejriwal, Kejriwal)”, filling the air with celebration.
As Kejriwal emerged from the Tihar gates, the crowd erupted in applause and cheers. Wearing a blue shirt, he waved to the throngs of supporters before addressing them from the roof of a car.
Similar scenes of celebration were witnessed outside his residence, where more supporters had gathered to greet their leader.
Traffic came to a standstill around Tihar Jail as the heavy rains compounded the already congested roads, with the crowd’s enthusiasm adding to the chaos. Hundreds of AAP leaders and workers had arrived hours before his release to ensure a grand reception for their chief minister.
Kejriwal was granted bail by the Supreme Court in connection with the excise policy-linked corruption case probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The Delhi CM had first been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21, 2024, in a money-laundering case linked to the excise case. He became the first serving chief minister to be arrested.
During the multi-phase general elections in India, Kejriwal was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court from May 10 to June 1, 2024. After campaigning, he again surrendered at Tihar Jail on June 2.
On June 26, the CBI formally arrested Kejriwal. On July 12, the Supreme Court granted him interim bail in the ED case, but he remained in prison because he was still under arrest by the CBI.
On August 5, the Delhi High Court upheld the CBI arrest, and Kejriwal had to remain in jail. On August 12, he moved the Supreme Court to appeal against the HC order. Finally, on September 13, Kejriwal was given bail on a bond of INR 10 lakh (USD 11,900 approx).
—With inputs by CtoI News Desk
